Chapter 1
Kayla smiled as she packed her suitcase. She was finally leaving home. Finally following her dream.
Her manager, Hick Rice, had finally made a deal for her to tour with someone. Kayla had wanted to be a singer ever since she was 8, and had recently met a man who volunteered to help her get on her way. He had been trying to find someone who would allow her to go on tour with them, because Kayla was new and needed some publicity before her first recording.
Hick and been looking for awhile now, but only just got the "ok" from someone. He had previously tried with several bands and single singers-including Hannah Montana-but none of them were willing to share the crowd. Hick finally found someone, who knew someone, who knew Kevin Jonas Sr. That's how Kayla ended up packing for her tour with the Jonas Brothers.
"Kayla! Can't you be quiet for five seconds?!" Kayla's dad, Gary, yelled from downstairs as she heard her banging around in her closet.
"Sorry, Dad!" she called.
"Be quiet!" he yelled at her. Kayla shook her head-half the time he got mad when she didn't reply, the other half he got mad when she did.
She stuffed her favorite outfits in her suitcase, and was about to close it to see how much more she could fit when the Jonas Brothers' song "Games" came on the radio.
"Here I come, Jonas Brothers! Kayla Harris is on the way!" Kayla whispered to herself so as not to disturb her dad.
She had always been a big fan of the Jonas Brothers, and couldn't believe they were the ones that had ended up letting her on tour with them.
Kayla looked at her Jonas Brothers poster wondering what her parents would do with it after she left. Probably just through it away…with the rest of my stuff I'll be leaving behind…Kayla looked around the room at her things, knowing she couldn't take all her things with her.
"That's just the way it's got to be, now, isn't it, Joe?" Kayla said looking back at her poster talking to her favorite Jonas Brother. She sighed and looked at herself in the mirror.
"Do you like brunettes, Joe?" Kayla whispered and she looked at her long, wavy brown hair. "How about blue eyed girls?" she asked referring to her very clear blue eyes.
She shrugged. What did it matter anyways? He probably has a girlfriend already.
"Dinner, Kayla!" Kayla's mom called in a harsh voice.
"Be there in a sec!" Kayla called cheerfully.
"Get down here NOW!" her mom, Lisa, demanded. Kayla flinched realizing her mistake, and tried to make amends.
"Coming right this minute!" She called running down the stairs as fast as possible. She stopped short at the bottom of the steps. Kayla hated the sight before her.Her dad was sitting on the couch with a cigarette in his mouth and an empty beer bottle in his hand.
She turned her attention to her mom who didn't look much better-except that she wasn't smoking at the moment- she wasn't drinking either, but had a cold beer in her place at the table.
Kayla took her place at the table with a sigh. I'll be far away from this soon-thankfully…
Gary turned the TV off and sat down at the table at the same time Lisa did. Kayla looked at the food with dismay- burgers from Burger King, chips, fries, and a few other cheap foods. It was a wonder that Kayla was very thin with the way she was fed.
Kayla starting eating in silence thinking about her upcoming trip. She was half done with her food when her father spoke.
"Get me a drink." Gary demanded Kayla. When she didn't respond because of her daydreaming, he got angry.
Kayla felt a sharp pain in her right leg as her father kicked her mercilessly. "What was that for?" she asked wincing, but very angry.
"I told you to do something. Get me a drink." Gary demanded while Lisa looked on with a bored look. Kayla stood up quickly at his threatening tone. She returned from the kitchen a moment later with beer in her hand.
"Here." Kayla said shortly as she put it on the table, but set it down a little hard, making the bottle tip over spilling its contents over her father quickly. Gary stood up in surprise, but rage soon filled his face.
"Blast it, girl!" he yelled hitting her arm harshly. "Look what you did, you-"
"I didn't mean to!" Kayla yelled defensively through her tears.
"You always screw things up you little-"Gary's voice faded as Kayla ran up to her room getting hit again in the process.
She entered her room and slammed the door. Locking the door, Kayla collapsed onto her bed crying from the pain and anger. Why does he have to be like that? Why? Kayla drifted off to sleep shortly after.
"Great job, Kayla!" Gary called as the young girl showed her father her report card proudly.
"I did it, Daddy! All really good grades!" The eight year old Kayla said doing a little dance with happiness.
"Why don't you go show your mommy?" Gary suggested taking the girl's hand gently.
The memories filled Kayla's head as she drifted in and out of sleep.
"Let's go out for ice cream!" Kayla suggested as she walked down the street with her mom and dad.
"I don't know if you deserve ice cream…" Lisa said thoughtfully.
"Why not, Mommy?" Kayla asked with such big eyes that only an eight year old could pull off.
"Because you're so little." Gary said putting his hand on her head to show her how much smaller she was then them.
"Oh…" Kayla said quietly, her face falling. She screamed with glee as her father swept her up easily and placed her on his shoulders.
"Now, that's better!" Lisa said with a laugh as they all headed for the ice cream shop.
A few years later everything changed…
Thirteen year old Kayla heard her dad get home that evening and went to greet him knowing he would give her a bear hug and wet kiss.
When she reached the living room she was surprised to find him sitting on the couch watching TV.
"Daddy?" Kayla asked quietly. When he didn't respond she realized he was in one of his little grumpy moods, but didn't care-she always knew just how to cheer him up. Whenever he got like that she would run up to him and smother him in hugs and he would soon become cheerful again and start tickling her.
Kayla ran up and landed on the couch next to him and gave him a big, tight bear hug.
"Get off!" Gary yelled striking his daughter. Kayla drew back quickly not knowing what to think.
"What's wrong, Daddy?" she said trying not to cry from the pain he had just caused her.
"I just want to be alone." He said. Kayla relaxed at the words he said-they were familiar. She knew that was her cue to kiss him on the cheek and leave quietly.
"Okay, Daddy." Kayla said softly and kissed him on the cheek. Gary immediately hit her again.
"I said to get off!" he yelled furious. Kayla ran to her room and shut the door in fear.
"What wrong with Daddy?" she asked herself quietly. "He smelled funny, and was acting strange…"
Kayla woke up the next morning and groaned. She had slept in her clothes and wasn't very happy about the fact.
"I have to make sure not to make this a habit." Kayla said. Her phone rang and she answered it fighting back a yawn.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Kayla this is Hick. I hope you're ready to leave, because your flight is going to be earlier than planned."
